AUS v IND 2018-19: Travis Head rues missing the chance to dismiss Virat Kohli on Day one

Virat Kohli ended day one on 47*, after getting a lease of life.

Team India ended day one of the third Test in Melbourne of the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy on 215/2 with Mayank Agarwal scoring 76 on debut and Pujara making 68* and remaining unbeaten with Virat Kohli on 47*.

The score might well have been 215/3, of Tim Paine had managed to grab a chance to his right, as Virat Kohli had edged one off a Mitchell Starc delivery. But the ball plucked out of his glove as he dived with his right-arm stretched forward to get the dismissal.

After the day’s play, Australian batsman Travis Head said, “The best over today was from Starc. Beating Kohli inside and outside, that new ball hopefully can come out and do that tomorrow again. It was disappointing to leave that chance but it happens.”

He further added: “We would have liked to have 4-5 wickets tonight, but it is a massive morning and if we can still get them down two wickets in the morning, it will be good while the ball is still reasonably hard and a couple left-handers coming later on.”

Head hoped the more turn on day two might help the home side and said, “Yeah it was a tough day. A grinding day of Test cricket and they batted well. We created pressure and we have seen for the whole series there hasn’t been the high run rate for the day.”

“Sometimes that’s Test cricket. It is not always going to be clear sailing and good wickets, and today was a case when we had to grind it out. It makes for another massive morning tomorrow to create pressure and make sure we bowl tomorrow the day we did today. I thought we restricted India in trying conditions,” he said about Australia made to grind out on Day one at MCG by India.

Head praised Pat Cummins, who picked the two wickets to fall and said, “Cummins led from the front and got two wickets for us. He bowled hard and aggressive, used his bouncer well, and extracted something from the wicket. And he put pressure on Indian batsmen all day.”